Syrian opposition labels Iran 'occupying force'

The Syrian opposition wants Iran to be declared as an occupying force.

Middle East

04 Kasım 2013 Pazartesi 09:29

World Bulletin / News Desk

The Syrian opposition on Sunday demanded that Iran be declared an occupying force in Syria, that the Lebanese Hezbollah group be declared a terrorist group and that arms be supplied to opposition fighters.

"Iran must be declared an occupying force in Syria," Ahmad Jarba, the head of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, told an emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo.

"We want Hezbollah be declared a terrorist organization for its involvement in crimes in Syria," he added.

Jarba conditioned their participation in the Geneva II conference on an Arab umbrella support, in cooperation with Turkey.

"And until all this happens, we ask you to supply us with arms and we are ready to guarantee that the arms would not fall in the wrong hands."

Arab diplomatic sources suggested Jarba's "high-ceiling" came as a surprise to the Arab foreign ministers.

The emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers came in response to a request from the Syrian opposition to discuss the situation in the war-ravaged country.

The top diplomats will discuss efforts by Lakhdar Brahimi, the special UN and Arab League envoy to Syria, to pave the way for the Geneva II conference.